Interior minister Quetta announces crackdown against terrorists

QUETTA: Following a bomb targeting mourners at Civil Hospital in Quetta killed scores of people including lawyers, journalists and civilians; provincial interior minister Sarfaraz Bugti has announced a crackdown against terror elements without more ado.

Bilal Anwar Kasi was targeted by two unknown gunmen as he left his home in the morning for work.

In the blast, the minister said, lawyers were the main target who had gathered at the hospital after the murder of the Balochistan Bar Association in a separate firing incident during the wee hours of Monday.

Former President Balochistan High Court Baaz Muhammad Kakar and brother of Awami National Party’s provincial President were also killed because of today’s tragic incident.

Sadly, cameraman of a local television channel was also killed while performing his journalistic duties.

“A number of lawyers and some journalists had gathered at the hospital following the death of the president of the Balochistan Bar Association in a separate shooting incident early this morning,” said provincial Interior Secretary Akbar Harifal.

Chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri has declared a three-day mourning in the city while business community has announced to suspend their activities on Tuesday.

Pakistan Bar Council has given strike call for tomorrow and Supreme Court Bar has announced a weeklong remembrance across the country.

Meanwhile, lawyers at the Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar Bar Councils have boycotted courts in protest against the Quetta Blast. Lahore Bar Council would also observe a three-day mourning.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for either attack that jolted the terror-hit city of Quetta today.

Facebook activated its safety check for Quetta in the wake of the attack.

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has oil and gas resources but is afflicted by militancy, sectarian violence and a separatist insurgency.